Quick & Easy Recipes for Entertaining

~ By Audrey Chow-Jones, One Senior Place Receptionist ~

Entertaining does not have to be hard or stressful – it’s all in the planning! Make a check list with a time frame for your menu, food prep, decorations, set up, and music. If you have a specialty that can be cooked ahead of time and then frozen until needed, that will cut down on stress and you will be able to enjoy your own party. Have a platter or dish that’s not too pretty? Try covering it with curly edge lettuce and present your appetizers on it and voila! Have a recipe that everyone always LOVES? Make some recipe cards and leave them near the dish (see a fan favorite, below). At One Senior Place, we play host frequently, and I have used these tips and tricks to help pull off some fantastic events!

Sample menu for a quick get-together:

Main dish – Think about having one item as the main offering, like a Baked Potato Bar or Salad Bar with all the fixings. Prepping all of the extras ahead of time and putting them in their serving dishes makes this a No Stress option!

Crudités with dip

Cheese and Cracker Platter

Chicken Salad Phyllo Shells (recipe below)

Pinwheel Sandwich Platter (recipe below)

Sliced Fruit Platter with Fruit Dip (dip recipe below)

Phyllo Shells filled with Fruit Dip or Pudding (recipe below)

Fruit Infused Seltzer Water (recipe below)

Main Dish Options

Baked Potatoes

Butter

Sour Cream

Shredded Cheese

Melted Cheeses

Broccoli – blanched

Mushrooms – cooked

Black Olives

Chives

Grilled Sliced Chicken

Sliced Steak

Bacon Bits

Salad Bar

Romaine Lettuce – cleaned and torn (chopped)

Tomato

Cucumbers

Red Onion

Mushrooms

Peperoncini

Olives – black & green

Artichoke Hearts

Shredded Cheese

Variety of Salad Dressings

Appetizers

Chicken Salad Phyllo Shells

Phyllo Shells – in the frozen section of your supermarket.

Chicken Salad (recipe below) from the deli (or any salad of your choice)

Chicken Salad:

Leftover, Rotisserie or Canned Chicken – Chopped small

Celery – Chopped

Onion – Chopped

Mayonnaise

Black Pepper

Mrs. Dash Tequila Lime Seasoning

Cumin

Directions: Mix all the ingredients, fill Phyllo shell with salad of choice, and remember – presentation is everything!

Pinwheel Sandwiches:

Variety of deli meats of your choice

Sliced cheese (easier to choose one type)

Floured Tortilla shells

Directions:

Place tortilla shell on plastic wrap

Layer with deli meat and cheese (leave room on the edge of tortilla to spread a small amount of mayo to keep it from opening)

Fruit-Infused Seltzer Water:

Flavored Seltzer Water (I prefer the Target Brand)

Plain Seltzer Water

1 Orange

1 Lemon

1 Lime

Ice

Directions: Slice all fruit in rounds. In clear beverage dispenser, fill ¾ of container with ice. Put in fruit, 2 parts flavored seltzer water to 1 part plain seltzer water. Stir and enjoy. During the holidays I’ll throw in some cranberries for color.